While email remains a great medium for recaps, updates, and other informational exchanges, there are many situations where it’s not the best form of communication.
In our modern workplace, Google Chat can be a great additional tool for instant collaboration, alongside email. It’s often easier to ping someone than to walk over to their desk, especially if the response you need is finite and a quick answer. Spaces provide a great channel to keep messages, files and links grouped on a specific topic e.g. have a Space for project comms. A team Space is also a great way to prompt team coffees or informal communications if your team is working hybridly.
Google Chat is a supported service at UCD that can replace alternatives like WhatsApp groups.
Top tips for chat:
- Keep chat conversations to three questions or fewer.
- Give a little context when pinging someone.
- You can see by the colour dot if a contact is available or not: white for offline, green for available and red for busy. Helpfully, Google Chat will even prompt you before you send a message if the person is out of office or it's outside their working hours.
- Sometimes a phone or Zoom call may be easier, if your message or question is nuanced or needs further explanation.
See further details in this (opens in a new window)Harvard Business Review article.
